The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-04-15

1
II had two heavy sample-bags. both
of which l had dropped off the train
before springing down myself, and as
the cars disappeared is the distance. ]
stopped to pick them up. But as did
SO. some one from behind sprang
heavily upon me. and. taken at a dis
advantage. I went down in u heap. with
the stranger on top Of me.
Bring the cords, jed heard my
unknown assailant say. and in very
few minutes l was securely bound,
hand and foot. with strong lashings of
rope. l was then permitted to sit up,
and tried to discover in the darkness
the appearance of my enemies. But it
was too dark to see their faces clearly.
l was enabled to make out the forms of
two powerful men. in rough dress and
brOad-rimmed, SLOUGH hats.
"Then one of them accosted me.
"'You is the chap that was down to
Jones store yesterday, l take it?'
Eyes l was at Jones's store yes
terday; and now. what do you want of
me. and why are you treating me in
this way?'
".We were down there, too an.
swered the other. who had not spoken
until now. 'and we heard you give a
good deal of advice about how to catch
the hoss-thieves the people were SO ex-
cited about. You advised them to or
ganize a vigilance committee. and hang
every hoss-thief caught. And they are
taking your advice.
awe heard old Jones advise you to
stop ut this place, and it suited our
plans to a dot. We were just on our
way to the depot when the train slowed
up here. and dropped you right into
our hands without any trouble.
"Now,' he continued, we are going
to make kind of example of you.
They'd never have thought of forming
a vigilance committee if it hadn't been
for you, and we propose to fix you so
you'll not have chance to give any
more advice
Saying which they cOnversed to-
gether i'm Il low tone for moment, and
then one of them went to the brush at
the roadside. where could hear him
chopping and splitting with a Ratchet.
Presently he returned, bearing several
sticks i'm his hand.
"Now, my lad said Jed, were
going to stake you down here, stretch
ed across the track. and see if you'll
get up any more vigilance commit
tees
''Their object was now only too APP
parent, and was nothing more nor less
than to fasten me down on the railroad
track. so that the first train that came
along would run over and crush me to
death!
Il took in the whole horror of the
situation ut once. and wildly prOtested:
Surely, if you are horse-thieves.
you must have some heart, and beg of
YOU not to torture an honest man i'm
this way!'
'.But l might as well have talked to
the stones along the grade. One of the
thieves had been busy whiting away
on piece of wood. while the above
conversation was taking place. He
now advanced and spoke:
"Jed. jest hold on to him. and I'll
stop his talking so much and as l was
grasped in the powerful arms of the
aforesaid jed, the second ruffian forced
my mouth open, and roughly fitted the
piece of wood upon which he had been
whiting between my jaws, making it
utterly impossible for me to speak, and
painful for me even to breathe. Then
was quickly thrown TO the earth. and
dragged directly across the railroad
track.
while one of the villains held me
down. although struggled with all my
might, the other drove a large wooden
PEI, or stake, into the ground, close to
the outside of one of the iron rails.
Then making loop at one end of n
cord. he passed it over my feet. drew it
taut. and fastened the other end to the
stake.
He next proceeded to prepare
another rope in similar manner. after
driving second stake on the outside
of the other rail. This second loop he
passed over my head. drew it as tight
as possible, without actually strangling
me. and fastened the end to the stake
just driven.
Il now found myselfin a horrible po-
sition-with hands and feet tied:
another rope was slip-noosed around
my ankles and fastened to strong
stake. and slip-noose around my neck
was drawn SO taut that l could scarcely
breathe, with the end of the rope fas-
tened to stake on the opposite side.
Il was literally stretched across the
iron rails. with my head resting upon
one rail. while my ankles were stretch
ed across the other. and the least strug-
gle on my part almost produced stran-
gulation.
"'Now. young teller, we wish you
much joy in your theory of catching
hos>-thieves. Your vigilance commit
tee won't be apt to do goa much good,
anyhow said one of the men.
"'Wal. you'll have time to mediate
ont, said the other ruffian. The ex-
press train won't be along under an
hour and half yet. and in your posi-
ton you can do a powerful sight of
thinking in that time
Il could not answer, and l heard the
ruflians depart without being able to